A
ceilidh band (sometimes called a "barn dance
band") is a band that plays traditional music for
ceilidhs, barn dances and similar events.

What
exactly IS a barn dance?

It's
a "fun" social event suitable for reasonably
active people of all ages - it's normally held in a hall
(sometimes in a barn or other venue). The music is
provided by a CEILIDH BAND, and the instructions needed
for the dances are given by a CALLER, who also acts as
MC.

What's
the difference between a barn dance and a ceilidh?

In
England, these terms have pretty much the same meaning -
although the word "ceilidh" is sometimes used
when it's planned to have some traditional musical
entertainment interspersed between the dances.

I've
never been to a barn dance before. Will I be able to
take part in the dancing?

Yes!
Before each dance, the caller will announce the name of
it, then invite couples to come on to the dance floor
and stand in a particular formation, e.g. in a circle or
in a "longways" set. All dances are divided
into easily-managed sections called "figures".
The caller will explain each figure in turn -
normally followed by a "walk-through" to
ensure that the instructions have been understood.

When
all the figures have been explained and "walked
though", the dance will
begin - with the band of course playing the music. But
don't worry, you're still not on your own,
as the caller will "call" each figure as the
dance progresses. If you are a beginner, try get
yourself into a set that contains some experienced
dancers, as they will usually help you out.

Keep
in mind that a caller will often begin the evening with
a couple of easy dances in order to assess the expertise
of those taking part - so that's the time to give it a
try! If still in doubt, just ask the caller if the dance
just announced is suitable for beginners.

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PAGE CONTENTS

FAQS
- Event Organisers

What advance arrangements do I need to make for a barn dance or a ceilidh?

You’ll
need to book the band, the caller and the venue.

If
your event will include the provision of food, you may
also need book a caterer.

When
booking a venue, you should check that it holds a
premises licence which includes the provision of
“regulated entertainment”. If it does not, you will
need to submit (well in advance) a Temporary Events Notice
(TEN) to your local authority for approval. If you wish
to sell alcohol at your event, you can specify this in
your TEN.

Nearer
the time (If your event is a private one) you’ll need
to send out invitations. For public events, you will
probably need to print tickets and posters, and perhaps
arrange for some publicity.

How do I book the band?

Just
ring one of the numbers given on the “contact” page
of this website.

What kind of events do you play for?

We
play for a mixture of public and private events.

Organisations
who have booked us for their barn dances or ceilidhs include: school PTAs, Scouts and
Guides, churches and church groups (C of E, RC, Baptist
and Methodist), sports clubs, community and village
associations, political associations, charitable
societies,
neighbourhood watch associations, medical practices and
company social clubs.

Yes.
For the technically-minded, we use a Soundcraft mixing
desk
and Mackie active speakers.

When
will the band arrive?

About
half-an-hour before the beginning of your event. We need
this time to set up the PA system, tune our instruments
and balance and adjust the sound to suit the venue.

What
facilities do I need to provide for the band?

Somewhere
to park and unload our PA system as close as possible to
where we will be playing. Ideally, we also need to be
able to leave our vehicle at that location for the
duration of the event, in readiness for easy reloading
at the end.

A
stage or other performance area at least 4.5 metres wide
by 2.5 metres deep. Although a stage
is ideal, it's not essential, as the band can set up on staging blocks - or even at floor level if necessary.
If your event is to be held out-of-doors, the band will
need to be under cover. A gazebo (with three side-walls)
would be suitable.

Six chairs
(without arms). The type of chair normally used in halls
is ideal.

One small
table. A surface size of about 1 metre by 0.5 metre is
ideal.

One 13 amp
power socket - sufficiently close to where the band will
be playing to allow our equipment to be connected
without causing a tripping hazard.

Sufficient lighting for the band members to
read sheet music.

Please
remember to include the band (and the caller) when
calculating numbers for your catering arrangements.

How do I book a caller?

When
you book the band, we will book a caller on your behalf
(we work with several good local callers).If you have a favourite caller, just tell us.

If you prefer, you can book the caller yourself. We’re
happy to work with any caller – just let us know who
it is!

What is a suitable venue for a barn dance or a
ceilidh?

Some kind of a hall is usually best: e.g. a village hall, a church hall or a school hall.
Other possible venues include social clubs and hotel function rooms.

Barns are sometimes used, and this can work well if the event is combined with a barbeque, lamb or
hog roast etc. As barns aren’t normally heated, such an event needs to be held in the
summer. Bear in mind that even if it is warm enough for dancing, the musicians won’t be able to play if their fingers are frozen!
Barns can be very dusty, especially when they have been
used to store straw bales. An activity such as dancing
may raise clouds of dust - very unpleasant, and also a
health hazard. We would recommend that you arrange for
the barn floor to be hosed down the day before your
event.

Marquees can also be used, but like barns they are really only suitable for summer events - unless heated.

Some barn dances and ceilidhs are held out-of-doors:
e.g. on a village green, in a field, or in a large garden. As with barns and marquees, such events
need to be held in the summer. Most importantly of all, you need to have a pre-arranged alternative indoor venue close at
hand in case of inclement weather. Also be aware that sound travels a long distance
in the open air, which might cause problems with neighbours.

How
should I set out the venue?

Ideally,
keep everything in one area. If you have the bar in a
separate room, you will lose some of the atmosphere, and
the caller won't be able to attract the attention of
those in the bar.

However,
a separate room or other area is ideal for the food. The
food can be set out on tables, then the tables (with the
food) carried through at the beginning of the break.
After the break, the tables can be quickly cleared away,
allowing the dancing to recommence without any undue
delay.

Assuming
the hall or other area is rectangular in shape (with the
band at one end) arrange chairs and tables along each
side. Not everyone will be dancing at once, so the
chairs will be needed by those not actually dancing. The
tables can be used for drinks, and will also be required
for the consumption of food during the mid-evening
break.

When
setting out chairs and tables, be sure not to obstruct
any fire exits.

Halls,
community centres etc. are often rather austere places,
but can be greatly improved for an event with some
festive decorations e.g. streamers, balloons, coloured
lights etc.

When is the best time of the year to have a barn dance or a ceilidh?

Any
time of the year - although it’s probably best to
avoid bank holiday periods, as this can impact on the
number of people able to attend. Of course, some events
(e.g. harvest-supper barn dances) are by their very
nature seasonal - and outdoor, (or semi outdoor) events
need to be held in the summer.

What is the best day of the week on which to hold a barn dance or
a ceilidh?

Saturday
is usually considered to be ideal (as most people
attending will not have to go to work on the following
day). For a similar reason, Friday is a good second
choice. But any day is possible.

When is the best time of the day to have a barn dance or a ceilidh?

The
evening is usually best - normally starting between 7:00 and
8:00 p.m. However, an afternoon (or early evening)
timing might sometimes be suitable, and would probably
be essential for an outdoor summer event.

How long should a barn dance or a ceilidh last?

Somewhere
between three to four hours is usual – with a break of
about half-an-hour in the middle.

What catering arrangements do I needto consider?

It
is customary to have a break around half-time for food.
The break also provides a great opportunity for some
general socialising.

The
standard offering at a barn dance or a ceilidh is a
“ploughman’s supper” - (bread rolls, cheese &
pickled onions – usually with a light salad). This can
be supplemented with a pudding, if desired.

Alternatives
include a buffet, a curry, or a chilli. Some organisers
opt for a fish supper – delivered to the venue at a
prearranged time from the local fish-and-chip shop. For
outdoor events, a barbeque, lamb roast or pig roast is
usual.

Special
arrangements apply to Burns Nights, which always BEGIN
with a “Burns Supper”. The traditional supper starts
with “Cock-a-Leekie” soup (leek soup, made with a
chicken stock). This is followed by “Haggis with Neeps
& Tatties” (haggis with swedes and mashed
potatoes) . Next comes “Typsy Laird” (sherry trifle)
and the supper is rounded off with a “Tassie o'
Coffee” (cup of coffee).The dancing starts AFTER the supper is finished
and the tables are cleared away.

Whatever
catering arrangements you make, you may wish to consider
the requirements of vegetarians.

How should I resource the catering?

There
are several options.

You
could employ a firm of caterers. They usually offer a
number of menu alternatives, with the price per head
varying according to which menu you choose.

You
could make an arrangement with a fast-food outlet - e.g.
a fish-&-chip shop or pizza outlet- to deliver the
required number of portions to your venue at a
prearranged time.

You
could do the catering yourself. This is the cheapest
option, but a lot of work. You will need a team of
reliable volunteers (perhaps family, friends, or
members of your organisation) to help you. Further
savings can be made by purchasing your food and other
supplies from wholesale outlets. You will also need to
think about cutlery, crockery etc. If your venue has a
kitchen, these things may be available - but your team
of volunteers will need to wash up and put away
afterwards. Alternatively, you could consider using
disposable cutlery and crockery, and take away the waste
at the end of the event.

If
your event is to be held in a hotel function room (e.g.
a wedding barn dance), you will probably required to use
the establishment's own in-house catering
services.

I'm
running a public barn dance, Should I include food in
the ticket price?

Generally
speaking, yes. And if you are including food in the
price, be sure to
make this clear on your tickets, posters or other
publicity. People need to see that you're offering good
value.

Providing
that you sell your tickets in advance, your revenue will
be known - which makes budgeting easier. By
contrast, the revenue from the sale of food at an event is unpredictable -
you may have a lot of
unsold food at the end.

A
good compromise is to include food in the ticket price -
then sell anything that's left over at a
knock-down price near the end of the event.

What arrangements do I need to make regarding the provision of alcoholic
drinks?

If
you (a) plan to provide alcoholic drinks without charge
(for example at a wedding barn dance) - or (b) plan to
advise attendees to bring their own alcoholic drinks,
that’s OK.

However,
if you plan to SELL alcoholic drinks (for example, at a
public barn dance) you will need to consider the
licensing arrangements. If your chosen venue has a
staffed bar, the licensing arrangements should already
be in place.

If
you plan on running your own bar, you will have to
submit (in advance) a TEN (Temporary Event Notice)
application to your local authority (a small fee is
payable with your application). Be aware that the
maximum number of TENs allowed for any particular
premises is twelve in any one year. Furthermore, the
total number of days covered by these TENs cannot exceed
fifteen, and there must be a 24-hour gap between each
TEN.

Another
option is to employ the services of a mobile bar. A
mobile bar will arrive in a van about an hour before
your event, then set up a bar – normally using tables
or other facilities provided by your venue. A Temporary
Event Notice is still required. The mobile bar will
usually apply for this on your behalf - but do check.

Although
the response to this FAQ is believed to be correct at
the time of writing, you are advised to check with your
local authority.

I am running a public event. How can I ensure that it will be a financial
success?

Firstly,
add up your main costs: hire of venue, band and caller -
and the cost of the food if you are including this in your
ticket price. Essentially, you will need to sell tickets
equalling these costs if you you merely wish to break
even. It follows that you will need to sell tickets
exceeding these costs if you wish to make a profit.

The
maximum number of tickets you can sell will always be
limited by the capacity of your venue. In reality, you
can usually oversell tickets by about 5%, as some people
(by reason of illness or other unforeseeable
occurrence) won't turn up on the day,
even though they've bought a ticket.

It
is strongly recommended that you sell tickets well in
advance of your event. Selling tickets "on the
door" is inadvisable, but is nevertheless useful as
a fall-back if your advance ticket sales are
under-subscribed.

If
you are running a barn dance for your club or other
association and find that you are unable to sell enough
tickets within your membership, consider opening up the
event to the friends and families of your members,
and/or to members of other local organisations with
similar aims to yourselves.

It
is useful to have some publicity posters, placed in
strategic locations. An item in the local press and/or
an announcement on local radio might also help. Do
not however rely on advertising alone - it is important
to have a few people who are capable of pro-actively
selling tickets.

As
a general rule, it's best to include food in your ticket
price. However, some outdoor or semi-outdoor events may
provide opportunities for selling food items which carry
a high profit margin - such as hot dogs or ice-cream.
You will of course need additional facilities (cooking
or refrigeration equipment) and careful management will
required to avoid the wastage (and cost) of any unsold
food. If your supplier is close to the venue (and open
for business during your event) this would be ideal, as
you could buy less than your estimated food requirement
initially, then make a second trip to the supplier
during the course of the event if a "top-up"
were needed.

A
raffle held during the mid-evening break is a useful way
of generating additional revenue. You can keep the costs
of a raffle to a minimum if you can persuade members
of your organisation to donate the raffle prizes. If
your event is in aid of a recognised charity, you will
probably be able to get local traders to donate some
good prizes. It's a good idea to ask the caller
to announce the raffle early on in the evening. But
don't just rely on an announcement - you will a lot
sell more tickets if you have a couple of people going around
the hall pro-actively selling them. Offer a
discount for quantity purchase: e.g. "30p each, or
£1 for a strip of five."

Another
possible money-raising idea for your break is
"rolling a pound coin for a bottle of whisky".
The bottle of whisky (preferably donated) is placed
upright on the floor of the hall. From a line, patrons
take turns in rolling a marked pound coin. At the end of
the coin rolling, the roller of the pound coin nearest
to the bottle wins the bottle of whisky.

Finally,
if you have booked our band, we'll be pleased to promote
your event here on this website at no extra cost - just
send us the full details.

I wish to make a speech at some point during the event - what should I
do?

The
mid-evening break is the best time for a speech. Just
tell the caller that you would like to use the
microphone. If you've never used a microphone before,
here are a few tips. Point the microphone towards your
mouth, with the grid about one inch (2.5 cm) from your
lips. Don't forget to switch it on before you start
speaking! When you speak, just use your normal voice -
the amplifier will do the rest. If you find that you're
not loud enough, just ask a member of the band to
increase your volume level.

I
just need to make an announcement, but I'm not confident about using a microphone. What should I do?

Just
give the details to the caller, who will happy to make
the announcement on your behalf.

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PAGE CONTENTS

FAQS
- Musicians

Could
I join the band?

Possibly.
The band has six full members and a varying number of
associate members.

Band engagements are offered to
full members in the first instance. If a full member is unavailable for a particular booking, an associate
member is asked to stand-in for them.

Should a full
member decide to leave the band, an associate member is
given the opportunity to become a full member.

Currently, there are no vacancies for full members.
There are always vacancies for associate members.

So,
how do I become an associate member?

Just
ring one of the telephone numbers on the contact page
this website, We'll arrange an informal get-together
with one or more of the full band members. You would
need to bring your instrument, and we would probably
spend an hour or so running through some of the
band's material. Following that, if we thought that you
might fit in, (and you thought that you would fit in
with us), you could become an associate member.

Does
anyone else play in the band?

Yes.
We sometimes invite a guest musician to play with
us.

What
instruments might you be looking for?

Our
most common requirement is for fiddle, English
concertina, guitar or bass guitar/cello.

A
button accordion (B/C or C#/D) could replace English
concertina. A melodeon or Anglo concertina would also
serve, providing that it could be played in the first
three "sharp" keys.

Other
instruments might be considered, but please note that we
do not use brass instruments or electronic keyboards.

If
you are a melody player, you could do either. However,
to play by ear you would need to know (or be prepared to
learn) the band's repertoire - currently, 700 + tunes.

If
you are a guitarist, you would need to be able follow the sheet
music in order to to play the chords set out above the
staff.

Similarly,
If you are a bass guitarist/cellist, you would need to be able to
play the bass notes relevant to the chords set out above
the staff.

How
would I connect to the band's pa system?

You
would need a suitable pickup - or, if you play a free-reed
instrument, a pair of suitable pickups. You would also need a DI box, and
a cable with an XLR (male) plug to connect to our mixer.

Playing
into a microphone is a possibility, but is not ideal in a
ceilidh situation. The band has a spare microphone and
stand - available for emergency use, or for use on a
temporary basis pending
the purchase of a pickup.

As
a member of the band, what would be my commitment?

As
a full member of the band (or associate member or
guest), your
only commitment is to turn up and play at every booking
that you have agreed to do.

As
well as your instrument, you will need to remember to
bring your pickup, lead and DI box (and a music stand,
if you need one). If you play a stringed instrument, you
should bring an electronic tuner (or a tuning fork) and a spare set of strings.

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PAGE CONTENTS

FAQS
- Callers

Do you always work with the same caller?

No,
we work with several local callers. We're also happy to
work with callers who we've never worked with before.

Will I be able I plug my microhone into the band's PA system?

Yes.
Your microphone (or radio-microphone receiver) will need
a cable with an XLR (male) plug to connect to our mixer.

What
types of traditional music do you play?

We
have more than enough traditional English, Irish and
Scottish tunes in our repertoire to devote an entire
evening to any one of these genres. We don't normally do
that, of course - we play a mixture tunes, always
choosing tune-sets to suit the dance concerned.

Please
tell us: (a) the name of the dance (b) the tune-type and
(c) the
number of bars. Also (where appropriate) tell us the
"number of times through".

How
should I signal to the band to start playing?

Ideally
you could cue us in some prearranged way that the dance is
about to begin - perhaps using a consistent
catch-phrase. For example, you could say to the
dancers: "Go back to your original places, and
we'll dance the "Nonesuch Jig". Then - when
the dancers are absolutely ready - just turn to the band
give us a clear hand signal - and we'll play.

How
should I signal to the band to that the dance is about
to finish?

A
few bars before the end of a tune, just turn to the band
and say: "One more time!"

What
does the band normally do if the dancers fall behind the
music?

We
usually notice when this is happening, and play an extra
"A", "B" etc. as necessary. If we
don't spot it, just turn to the band and say:
"Extra A", "Extra B" - or whatever
is required.

How
should I signal the band when I need to stop a dance
prematurely?

Just
turn to the band, and say: "Cut !" (you could
reinforce this with a "hand-on-neck" signal!)

Some
of my dances have set tunes - will the band be able to
play them?

Probably.
Here's a list of the set tunes that we know:

Aunt
Hessie's White Horse

Marching
Through Georgia

Blaydon
Races

Mexican
Waltz

Coming
'Round the Mountain

Mines
Of Moria

Donkey
Riding

Nutting
Girl

Dorset
Four-Hand Reel

Old
Man Of Jutland

Double
Lead Through

Orcadian
Jig

Enjoy
Yourself

Penny
On The Water

Farmer
Gray

Red
River Valley

Foula
Reel

Redwing

Galopede

Royal
Albert

Gay
Gordons

Saint
Bernard's Waltz

German
Clap-Dance

Seneca
Square Dance

Grandfather's
Clock

Shetland
Boston

Gypsy
Wedding

Shropshire
Lass

H.R.H.
The Prince Of Wales Favourite

Sir
Roger De Coverley

Hava
Nagila

Streets
of Laredo

Horses
Branle / Brawl

Swanee
River

Hullichan
Jig

Swedish
Masquerade

I
Wanna Be Near You

Tavern
In The Town

Inkey-Pinkey
Parlez-Vous

Tempest

John
of Paris

Three
Around Three

Johnny
Get Your Hair Cut

Three
Sea Captains

La
Russe

Tom
Tully's

Les
Fleures Francaises

Trip
to Barford

Lincolnshire
Poacher

Trip
to Highgate

Little
Man In A Fix

Veleta

If the set
tunes you will need are not on our list, please let us
know in advance of the event. If possible, please also
email the music to us (.jpg, .gif, .pdf or .abc)

I
sometimes call American squares. Will the band be able
to play some suitable tunes?

Probably.
Here's a list of American reels that we know:

Angeline
the Baker

Liza
Jane

Arkansas
Traveller

Log
Cabin

Boil
'Em Cabbage Down

Marmaduke's
Hornpipe

Buffalo
Gals

Nelly
Bly

Camptown
Races

Oh,
Susannah

Chinese
Breakdown

Old
Joe Clark

Coal
Black Rose

Rose
of Alabama

Dixie

Silver
and Gold

Fall
of The Mountain Dew

Skip
to My Lou

Golden
Slippers

Turkey
in the Straw

Good-Bye
Girls, I'm Going to Boston

Yankee
Doodle

Hopeful
Lover

Year
End Two-Step

If the
American reels you will need are not on our list, please
let us know in advance of the event. If possible, please
also email the music to us (.jpg, .gif, .pdf or .abc).

I
sometimes call Playford dances. Will the band be able to
play the associated tunes?

Possibly.
Here's a list of Playford tunes that we know:

All
in Garden Green

Jack's
Maggot

Black
Nag

Jenny
Pluck Pears

Childgrove

Newcastle

Dick's
Maggot

Nonesuch

Dressed
Ship

Parson's
Farewell

Fandango

Portsmouth

Goddesses

Sellenger's
Round

Grimstock

Shrewsbury
Lasses

If the
Playford tunes you will need are not on our list, please
let us know in advance of the event. If possible, please
also email the music to us (.jpg, .gif, .pdf or .abc).